Lowell E. Jones

First Lieutenant Lowell E. Jones was born 8 February 1919 in Ada, Oklahoma. He enlisted into the Army in 1941. As a member of the 45th Infantry Division, Jones served during the invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943. From June 1946 through August 1949 Jones served at Ft. Benning, Georgia, as a Light Weapons Infantry Leader. In November 1949 Jones was a 2LT assigned to Company C, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In response to President Truman's order for ground forces into Korea as a result of the North Korean Peoples' Army attack on South Korea on 25 June 1950, the 24th Infantry Division was closest to Korea and was the first U.S. Army division to respond. On 10 August 1950 near the town of Changyong, the enemy from a high position was pouring deadly fire into Jones' company position. Experiencing heavy casualties and threatening the entire Second Battalion, Jones, with utter disregard for his own safety, advanced through the hailstorm of fire to an exposed position and located the enemy machine gun that hampered the battalion's position. Jones fearlessly engaged the machine gun position until it was destroyed. For his gallantry in action, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Then just three months later, on 6 November 1950, Jones and his company engaged a numerically superior North Korean Army force near the city of Anju. As the enemy was breaking through his platoon's position and threatening the entire company, Jones called for close artillery support. During the barrage, he moved his troops to ensure their safety. Jones was wounded but without regard for his own safety, he again exposed himself to redirect artillery fire against the enemy. Jones earned a second Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal for his gallantry in action. Jones retired in 1986 with over 26 years of service.